Records

Ave.

Ave.

0-0

Top 16

0-0

3-3

Regular Season

3-3

3-3

Overall

3-3

Referees

Crew Chief

PEREZ PEREZ, MIGUEL, Spain

Referee

BIRICIK, MURAT, Turkey

Umpire

JURAS, MARKO, Serbia

The Take

It is a pivotal game for both teams, which are tied for third place each at 3-3. Nizhny is on a two-game winning streak and Zalgiris has lost its last two contests. Zalgiris must find a way to stop playmaker Taylor Rochestie, who has averaged 26.5 points in the last two games. Rochestie and Dmitriy Kvhostov must try to dominate the game tempo against Lukas Lekavicius and Vaidas Kariniauskas. James Anderson has been Zalgiris's go-to guy, but he will not have it easy against Tarence Kinsy, in arguably the key matchup in this game. Three-point threat Arturas Milaknis and swingman Edgaras Ulanovas will also play a big role for Zalgiris at both wings, as will Evgeny Baburin and Semen Antonov for Nizhny. Art Parakhuski and Trey Thompkins must use their power and athleticism against Zalgiris's deep frontcourt, featuring Robertas Javtokas, Paulius Jankunas, Arturas Gudaitis and Darius Songaila. Expect a very intense game in Russia.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Euroleague.net

Game Notes

Nizhny Novgorod
Coach Bagatskis has used 10 different players in his starting lineups so far this season; Semen Antonov is the only player to have started every game.
Tarence Kinsey has recorded at least 1 steal in 19 consecutive Euroleague games.
Taylor Rochestie has scored in double figures and made at least 1 three-pointer in each of the last six games.
Dimitriy Khvostov was a teammate of Zalgiris center Robertas Javtokas for two seasons between 2007 and 2009 at Dynamo Moscow.
Trey Thompkins has scored in double figures in six straight Euroleague games.
Thompkins has recorded at least 1 steal in five straight games.

Zalgiris Kaunas
Zalgiris leads the league in three-point accuracy this season at 46.1%.
Zalgiris is tied with FC Barcelona for the fewest three-point shots allowed in the league this season, 28.
Robertas Javtokas needs 29 more points to reach the 1,000-point plateau for his Euroleague career.
Paulius Jankunas needs 5 more offensive rebounds to surpass Panathinaikos legend Mike Batiste for fourth place on the Euroleague’s career offensive rebounding charts. Jankunas enters this week’s game with 343 career offensive boards.
Lukas Lekavicius has made 9 consecutive free throws in Euroleague action.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

BAGATSKIS, AINARS

Nizhny Novgorod

"Since the last time we faced Zalgiris we've become a better and much more experienced team. Experience is crucial in Euroleague, and one month in this competition is a like a few in national championships. And the game on Friday will be show how much quality have we added. At the same time we understand, Zalgiris has also become better. They have enough talented youngsters who learn form their veterans. We expect a difficult game and hope our fans will give us extra energy."

KRAPIKAS, GINTARAS

Zalgiris Kaunas

"After the last few rounds we are at 3-3 and so is Nizhny. That means that our meeting will decide which team will have a better position in the table. Unfortunately it is impossible to hit the replay button and to have the same game as in the first round. We were really good that time in Kaunas, but since that Nizhny Novgorod stepped up. The proof of that is their 2 wins on the road in the last two weeks. Taylor Rochestie is the key to their flow of the game, but he gets a lot of help from Tarence Kinsey and Artsiom Parakhouski. Their starting five is really powerful. It will be intense, interesting and difficult much on the road for us."

Players

KINSEY, TARENCE

Nizhny Novgorod

"A team changes everyday for better or for worse. We are not the same team we were last month. Just like we are not the same team from last week. We practise to improve on areas we showed weakness on and strengthen our strong areas as well. The thing I like about this team and coach we don't celebrate after a win and don't beat ourselves up after a loss. We stay together and block out every and anything people have to say good or bad us. And get back to work. What's most important is how the lockerroom feels."

JANKUNAS, PAULIUS

Zalgiris Kaunas

"It is impossible to expect that we will have the same game as in Kaunas. Now Nizhny Novgorod will play at home and will be very motivated for the revenge. We are following their recent games and it is obvious that players improved individually and they play much better team basketball. Their coach encourages fast tempo basketball and they shoot a lot of threes. Also, Taylor Rochestie can decide the game on his own, their big guys can stretch the floor, so it will be very tough match on Friday."

Zalgiris rallies from 17 down to beat Nizhny

In a very intense showdown, Zalgiris Kaunas rallied from a 17-point deficit to down Nizhny Novgorod 55-61, recording a very important road win in Group A. Zalgiris improved to 4-3 and has a 2-0 record against Nizhny, which dropped to 3-4. James Anderson paced the winners with 18 points. Paulius Jankunas and Robertas Javtokas each scored 9 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Zalgiris. Taylor Rochestie led Nizhny with 15 points. Tarence Kinsey added 11 while Art Parakhouski pulled down 13 rebounds for the hosts. Nizhny had a strong start and a layup by Kinsey gave the hosts a 10-4 lead. Javtokas and Anderson brought Zalgiris within 13-11 after 10 minutes. It didn't last long, however, as Semen Antonov struck twice from downtown in a 9-0 run that made it a double-digit difference, 22-11. Nizhny extended its margin to 37-20 near halftime, but Anderson led a 0-13 run which brought Zalgiris within 37-33. A floating jumper by Lukas Lekavicius made it a 1-point game heading into the fourth quarter. Anderson and Lukas Lekavicius gave Zalgris a 46-54 lead, completing a 9-34 run since Nizhny's biggest lead. Zalgiris held on to its small margin and cruised to a well-deserved road win.

First quarter: Rochestie puts Nizhny ahead

Both teams struggled to score early until Taylor Rochestie hit a mid-range jumper off the dribble. Zalgiris missed its first 5 shots until Vaidas Kariniauskas stepped up with a driving layup. Rochestie insisted with a mid-range jumper, which Tarence Kinsey followed with a fast break layup for a 6-2 Nizhny margin. Art Parakhouski split free throws, as Nizhny kept shining on defense, not allowing any open shots. Kariniauskas hit an off-balance shot in penetration to keep the guests within 7-4. Parakhouski split free throws and Kinsey scored off a steal to boost Nizhny's lead to 10-4. Robertas Javtokas took over with a three-point play, which Rochestie erased with a wild catch-and-shoot triple. Paulius Jankunas beat the shot clock with a baseline jumper and James Anderson added a six-meter shot to get the guests within 13-11 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Home team surges forward

Semen Antonov struck from downtown early in the second quarter, as Nizhny switched to a 1-2-2 zone defense. Zalgiris committed several turnovers, while a free throw by Kinsey and a stop-and-pop jumper by Evgeny Baburin made it an 8-point game. Another big triple by Antonov caused the guests to call timeout at 22-11, after a 9-0 run. Anderson tried to change things with a driving basket, but a layup by Kinsey and free throws by Rochestie gave the hosts a 26-13 advantage. Javtokas and Maksim Krivosheev exchanged free throws and a wild three-point play by Kinsey broke the game open, 31-15. Milaknis split foul shots and a tip-in by Arturas Gudaitis brought Zalgiris a bit closer, 31-18. Krivosheev scored around the basket and Trey Thompkins added free throws for a 35-19 Nizhny lead. Krivosheev, dunked but Javtokas and Vytenis Lipkevicius got Zalgiris within 37-23 at the break.

Third quarter: Zalgiris bouncd back

Anderson swished a jumper off an inbound pass soon after the break. Nizhny was held scoreless for more than three minutes and a three-pointer by Javtokas brought the guests within single digits, 37-28. A driving layup by Anderson forced Nizhny to call a much-needed timeout at 37-30. Anderson hit a technical free throw and a layup by Javtokas brought Zalgiris back to life at 37-33 after a 0-10 run. Thompkins banked in a close jumper, which Anderson matched with a layup. Javtokas scored again, but Rochestie hit a floater off the glass to restore a 41-37 Nizhny lead. Gudaitis made free throws, but so did Parakhouski and Kinsey to boost the hosts' lead to 44-39. Jankunas took over with a big basket in penetration and a four-meter jumper by Lukas Lekavicius made it 44-43 through three quarters.

Fourth quarter: Zalgiris pulls away when it counts

Rochestie provided a highlight with a wild driving basket that Darius Songaila matched with a jump hook. A three-pointer by Anderson completed the guests' comeback, 46-48, with over eight minutes left. Anderson hit a foul shot and a three-pointer by Lipkevicius boosted Zalgiris's margin to 46-52. A stop-and-pop jumper by Lekavicius caused Nizhny to call timeout at 46-54. Rochestie made free throws, which Lipkevicius erased with a driving layup. Thompkins sank a mid-range jumper and soon added free throws to bring the hosts within 52-56. Anderson made foul shots and a wild basket by Lekavicius seemed to seal the outcome, 52-60, with three minutes remaining. Nizhny kept fighting, however, as Dmitriy Khvostov struck from downtown. He didn't find much help around and a free throw by Anderson sealed the outcome down the stretch.

Head Coaches

BAGATSKIS, AINARS

Nizhny Novgorod

"It was another important game for us against a very good opponent. I warned my players before the second half because we weren’t really playing that good. We were terrible on our glass and that showed up in the second half and we allowed them to get 17 offensive boards and you can’t win a game in the Euroleague after that. Plus we made some crucial turnovers in the final quarter."

KRAPIKAS, GINTARAS

Zalgiris Kaunas

"The last game against Nizhny ended with a big win for us. I knew that Bagatskis's team wouldn’t let it go, so we prepared to face an aggressive opponent. Plus Nizhny is playing great in its last games, big wins against Sassari and Unics. We expected to have some struggles, but I’m glad that my guys listened to what I said in the locker room during the halftime break; they changed their approach and that is what led us to win the game."

Players

THOMPKINS, TREY

Nizhny Novgorod

"We started the game with intensity and with good pace. Something happened in the second half and we settled down. We lost the battle on the boards and eventually lost this game. It’s a very painful loss, but we have to get back on track."

JAVTOKAS, ROBERTAS

Zalgiris Kaunas

"We started the game slow, weren’t aggressive on defense and didn’t make shots on offense. At half time, coach changed our game plan, we came back aggressive and started playing physically. I think they scored only 7 points per quarter in the second half, so that means we won with our defense."